Thursday, November 6, 2008

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has announced that it will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, November 18, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way in Columbia, on a proposed reduction in service that may affect Howard County commuters. The MTA’s proposed service reductions include the elimination of commuter bus service from Howard County to Baltimore City on the MTA 310, 311 and 320 Routes; and a reduction in bus service to Washington D.C. and Silver Spring on the MTA 929 and 995 Routes.

"While I understand the State's need to reduce expenses, I am disappointed that they would propose to eliminate bus service at a time when we should be promoting public transit as a way to reduce traffic congestion, improve the environment and help citizens get to work," said County Executive Ken Ulman. "For some commuters, these bus routes are the only means they have to get to and from their jobs."

In an effort to accommodate those who wish to attend the hearing and may need to rely on public transportation to do so, Howard Transit will add a special temporary bus stop at the entrance to the Interfaith Center on the Brown Route with arrival times of 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

"We are trying to make it as easy as possible for transit riders to come to the public hearing and make their opinions known," said Carl Balser, Chief of Transportation Planning for Howard County.

For more information about MTA’s public hearing or bus service to the meeting, contact Howard Transit’s Customer Information line at 1-800-270-9553 or visit them online at www.howardtransit.com.

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This blog is compiled by Dan Beyers, the business, health, science and environment topics editor of The Washington Post. The material here is something he prepares in his free time and it is not part of his work for the newspaper. Dan is a longtime Columbia resident. He moved to Wilde Lake in 1969, is a product of Howard County schools, and now resides in Oakland Mills. His family even has a brick near the entrance to Clyde's. Say hi at columbiatalk@gmail.com.

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